Type 41 75 mm cavalry gun

The Type 41 75 mm cavalry gun was a Japanese field gun first accepted into service in 1908. The Type 41 designation was given to this gun as it was accepted in the 41st year of Emperor Meiji's reign (1908).[2] It was a slightly lightened version of the Type 38 75 mm field gun that was based on a 1905 Krupp design. It was the primary weapon of artillery units attached to cavalry formations. Although effectively obsolete by the start of World War II, it was used in limited numbers despite nominally being replaced by the Type 95 75 mm field gun.

Type 41 75 mm cavalry gun
Rear view of a Type 41 cavalry gun
Type	Light field gun
Place of origin	Empire of Japan
Service history
In service	1908-1945
Used by	Imperial Japanese Army
Wars	World War I, 2nd Sino-Japanese War, World War II
Specifications
Mass	915.76 kg (2,019 lb) firing 1,499.58 kg (3,306 lb) traveling
Length	4.39 m (14 ft 5 in) firing 8.05 m (26 ft 5 in) traveling
Barrel length	2.174 metres (7 ft 2 in) L/29.27
Width	1.37 m (4 ft 6 in) track, 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in) maximum
Height	1.57 m (5 ft 2 in)
Shell	75 x 185 mm R[1]
Shell weight	6.025 kilograms (13.28 lb)
Caliber	75 mm (2.95 in)
Breech	Interrupted screw
Recoil	Hydrospring
Carriage	Fixed box trail
Elevation	-8° to +16° 30'
Traverse	6° right 6° left
Rate of fire	8 rpm
Muzzle velocity	510 m/s (1,673 ft/s)
Maximum firing range	8,380 metres (9,160 yd)

Design

This Schneider type gun was especially constructed to give artillery support to cavalry regiments. Its design is almost identical with that of the original Model 38 75 mm gun. It is somewhat lighter than the Model 38 improved 75 mm gun, the corresponding direct-support artillery in the infantry division. In 1944, Japanese cavalry brigades had not yet been in combat against U. S. forces, it was not certain whether this old-fashioned gun with unmodified box trails and hydrospring recoil remained in general use or if it had been superseded by a more modern weapon. It can readily be differentiated from the Model 38 75 mm gun by its interrupted thread breechblock.[3]

A Type 41 cavalry gun seen from the side

External links

• Type 41 on Taki's Imperial Japanese Army page

References

Notes

1. "75-77 MM CALIBRE CARTRIDGES". www.quarryhs.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
2. War Department TM-E-30-480 Handbook on Japanese Military Forces September 1944 p 400
3. War Department Special Series No 25 Japanese Field Artillery October 1944

Bibliography

• Chamberlain, Peter and Gander, Terry. Light and Medium Field Artillery. New York, Arco
• TM-E 30-480 Handbook of Japanese Military Forces. US war department. 1945.
• War Department Special Series No 25 Japanese Field Artillery October 1944

See also

• Type 41 75 mm mountain gun